Phonograph



Sept. 17, 1940. A. VISCHER, JR 7 PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 17, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 17, 194

A. VISCHER' JR PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 17, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 arfflll'l'Il/l/dVl/l 5 J Sept. 17, 1940. A. VISCHER, JR

PHONOGRAPH 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 1'7, 1936 7 llllllq M mm 2 a 1 a a @w u 1 a 7 a z 1 9 .3 2 1 w w A. VISCHER, 'JR

'PHONOGRAPH se i. 17, 940.

Filed Feb. 17, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 A. VISCHER, JR

PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. l'7, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Sept; 17, 1940.

Sept. 17, 1940.

A. VISCHER, JR

PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 17, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Sept. 17, 1940. A. VlSCHERfJR PHONOGRAPH 11 sheetssheet 11 Filed Feb. 17, 1936 c ww Patented Sept. 11, 1940 UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims. (c1. 274-10) This invention relates, in general, to 1 reproducing apparatus, and has more particular I reference to phonographs.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a novel and an improved phonograph.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a multi-record phonograph for playing records selectively or in seriatim.

A further important object of the invention is to provide intermittent driving and timing means for such phonographs, which operates, andccordinates the operation of, a movable turntable and a movable record carrier and which may be driven from the motor used for rotating the turntable.

A primary object of the invention is to provide such driving and timing means not only for operating any one of a plurality of record carriers in timed relation with a turntable movable to and from a playing position, but also for positively locking the record .carriers and the turntable in their various positions corresponding to playing and non-playing periods, respectively.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide in such a phonograph, simplifled driving and timing means, a selector, and selector control means, which cooperate for automatically eil'ecting the selection called for by the selector control means whereby the record carrier bearing the selected record is operated to deliver the selected record to the turntable for playing. 1

An important-object of the invention is to provide in such a phonograph, turntable reciprocating apparatus which rigidly supports the turntable in its playing position, and which is readily operable to move it to and from such position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide in such a phonograph, a reproducer which automatically returns to a record starting position when the reciprocable turntable removes the played record from engagement with the reproducer.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of driving and timing apparatus operable by the same motor, which rotates the turntable for driving the record carrier swinging apparatus and the turntable reciprocating apparatus in timed relationship.

Another important object 01' the invention is so to support the record carriers as to minimize the sagging thereof..

Other important objects of the invention will become apparent from theiollowing description,

which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a phonograph as- B .sembled in a cabinet or casing shown partly in cross section, which embodies some of the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section through the cabinet substantially along the lines 2-4 of Fig. 10

'1, and shows a plan view of the phonograph apparatus with a record carrier in its delivery position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section and partially in plan, showing the main B6 drive of the phonograph;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a clutch and control therefor employed for coupling and go uncoupling the driving motor to and from the novel driving and timing apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view partially in cross section showing another view of the main drive of Fig. 3 and its relationship to the turntable and the clutch shown in the preceding figure;

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional detail taken substantially along the lines of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional detail taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6:

Fig. 9 is an elevational view partially in cross section showing the reproducer and its mounting for causing its automatic return to starting position;

Fig. 10 is a. plan view partially in cross section 35 showing another view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross section through the reproducer of Fig. 9 and is taken substantially along the lines H- -ii of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a. fragmentary elevation of the reproducer mounting of Fig. 9 with the reproducer arm shown in cross section and at a starting position;

Fig. 13 is a cross section ,taken substantially as along the lines -l3--l3 of Fig. 9, with portions broken away to bring out certain details of construction;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation partially in cross section showing the novel selector in operative so relation with a plurality of the novel record carriers which are shown in greater detail in Figs.

2 and 4; v

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines iI-li of Fig. 14; 55

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines iB-IO of Fig. 14; Fig. 17 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines II-i'l of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional detail taken' substantially along the lines lO-i8 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional detail taken substantially along the lines Iii-l8 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 20-20 of Fig. 4 with parts broken away and parts shown in phantom lines to show the operation of the driving and timing mechanisms and their relationship to the driven mechanisms of the phonograph;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 2l2l of Fig. 4,

but on a different scale;

Fig. 22 is a cross sectional detail of a control device and is taken substantially along the lines 22--22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of oneof the novel record carriers;

Figs. 24 to 28, inclusive, are detailed cross sections through the driving and timing means, and illustrate the various operative positions thereof;

and

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic view of the .wiring diagram illustrative of the operation of the novel phonograph.

Illustrative of the invention, the novel phonograph is shown as being of the multi-record type and isprovided with a casing or cabinet A of any usual design and construction. A suitable design and construction for the cabinet A'is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and is provided with a sight window B in its front side, a sound escape opening or grill C in the front side below the sight window B, and a mounting panel D, commonly referred to as the motor board, fixed inside the cabinet A near the sight window '3.

That cabinet A is adapted to carry therein the phonograph apparatus which is partially visible through the sight window B as shown in Fig.- 1. Thus, the cabinet A encases a usual sound converter or loud speaker E adjacent the sound escape opening C, and a suitable amplifier F. It will be understood that the speaker E is electrically connected to the amplifier F which; in turn is electrically connected to the reproducer whereby electrical impulses caused by and correlated with the actuations of the reproducer from the record being played are, after amplication by the amplifier F, converted into sound by the loud speaker E.

Generally speaking the illustrated phonograph comprises, in addition to the loud speaker and amplifier, a reproducer G, frequently referred to as a record playing or tone arm, a turntable H movable to and from playing relation with respect to the reproducer G, a plurality of movable record carriers I each adapted to carry a phono= graph record for reproduction by the reproducer G, a selector J for selecting any one of the record carriers I to select the record to be played, driving and timing means K for positioning the selector J in any of its selecting positions in response to a selector control L and for driving and coordinating the movements of the record carriers I and the turntable H whereby any selected record is movable to and-from playing engage ment with the reproducer G, and, if desired, a token or coin released device M for controlling the operation of the phonograph.

Briefly, by operating the selector control L and inserting a token or coin in the device M, a desired record may be selected whereupon the driving and timing means K will position the selector J in accordance with the operation of the selector control L; will move the record carrier bearing the selected record to a delivery position: and will, while the selected record is held in that delivery position, move the tumtable H toward the reproducer G. In moving toward the reproducer the turntable passes through that delivery position to remove the selected record therefrom and to cooperate with the reproducer in playing the selected record. While the record is thus being played, the reproducer G under the influence of the sound track moves toward the center of the record on the turntable H, and conditions or positions itself so that when it is released by or disengaged from the sound track, it will automatically return to its starting position.

When the selected record has thus been played,

turntable bearing the played record away from the reproducer G, which thus being released automatically returns to its starting position; will return the record to its record carrier which has remained at the delivery position during the playing of the record; and will return the record carrier bearing the played record from the delivery position to its original position. The cycle of operations as just described may be repeated as many times as desired.

The reproducer As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9 to 13, inclusive, the reproducer G comprises a hollow, upstanding bearing post .or column 5| mounted as by screws 52 on the mounting panel D between the rear wall of the cabinet A and the turntable Hand having an aperture 53 at the upper end of the post in the side thereof facing the turntable, and an angular lug 54 with a horizontal arm 55 under the aperture 53 and with an arm 55 at an end of the aperture 53, and projecting forwardly of the post 5| along a line which, if extended, would pass near the starting edge of a record on the turntable. The face of the lug 54 adjacent the aperture 53 is provided with a resilient member or spring 51 for a purpose to be described more fully presently.

The post 5! has its lower end partially closed by a base ledge portion 58 provided with a hub portion 59 rearwardly adjacent the vertical axis of the post. That hub portion 59 has journaled therein a bearing member 5| which, as shown in Fig. 9, may be threaded into the hub member and which at its inner end is provided with a bearing depression or recess 62. Associated with the bearing member 6! is a similar member 53 threadably receivable in the upper end of the post 5i and having a bearing depression or recess 55 in its inner end. The bearing depressions 62 and 64 are so arranged that they are coaxial and their common axial line is, from the lower bearing depression 62 to the upper bearing depression 64, inclined upwardly and in a lateral direction away from the record-carriers I;

Those bearing members BI and 63 are adapted to carry a rotatable playing arm support member 65 which has its ends pointed as at 66 to cooperate with the bearing depressions 62 and 54 for rotatably supporting the support member 65. That support member is thus mounted so that from its lower end to its upper end it is laterally inclined and has intermediate its ends the driving and timing means K will move the at the level of the aperture 88, a socket or aperture 81 and a laterally extending and depending lug 88 which cooperates with pivot screws or other suitable pivoting means 89 for pivotally 6 securinganarm H inthe socketor aperture 81 for limited rotation about a horizontal axis.

That arm H extends rearwardly of the pivoting means 89 suillcientiy to be engaged by the lug 88 for limiting rotation of the arm H in a 1 clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9, andexmeans, diagrammatically shown at" in Fig. 9,

for converting mechanical vibrations or other movements of the needle 12 into correlated electrical impulses which may be transmitted to the amplifier F by electrical conducting means 18.

Fixed at the lower end of the support member 88 to rotate therewith is a collar 18 having a laterally projecting finger or lug 'Il for operating normally open, resilient electrical contact members l8, suitably mounted as at I8 inside of the post II, when the needle 12 reaches a position over the turntable corresponding to the end of a record thereon. The purpose of the contacts 18 is to cause the driving and timing means K to resume operation at the end of each played record and for that purpose the contact members 18 are electrically connected by conductors 8! to the control circuit as shown in Fig. 29. The conductors l5 and BI extend from the reproducer through an aperture 82 in the panel I) to the amplifier F and the control circuit, respectively. An operable door or window 88 may be provided in a side wall of the post 5| to facilitate assembling and servicing the parts in the post.

4 By virtue of the inclination of the pivoted support member 65, gravity tends to urge the arm ll toward a natural position of rest beyond, and at the side of the lug 54 opposite the record carriers I. In its normal non-playing position, the

arm H rests on the horizontal arm 55 against the spring 51 which is compressed by the arm II. The friction between the arm H and the supporting arm 55 is sufllcient to hold the arm Ii in that positionagainst the action of the compressed spring 51 until the arm H is swung upwardly about its pivot 99.

It will be seen that, due to the inclination of the support member 85, if the arm I! is swung toward the record carriers I, that arm would be 5 gradually raisedas it moved away from its posi= tion on the lug 54. When the turntable H presents a record for playing, the record moving with the turntable engages the needle 12 and moves the arm' H upwardly about the pivot 89 00 to the level which the arm would assume if it were swung, as just described, toward the record carriers I, thus relieving the friction between the arms 55 and 'H. When that friction is thus relieved, the spring 51 moves the arm ll toward the center of the record-engaged by the needle 13,

causing the needle to engage in the starting groove of the record to be played.

As the record is played, the needle 12 following the sound track or groove therein causes the arm II to swing toward the center of the record, thus spring 81. As the needle 12 completes the record the finger 'il rotating with the pivoted member 88 closes the contacts I8 which cause the turntable H-bearing the played record to be moved away from the playing position. That movement of the turntable causes the record to disengage the needle 12 thus freeing the arm H which swings by gravity toward its natural position of rest. The spring ill yieldingly stops that return movement of the arm H and remains compressed for urging the arm toward the starting position of a subsequent record, as described above.

The turntable The turntable H cooperates with the reproducer G to play records and comprises a disc or other suitably shaped plate-like member 84 for supporting a record and for rotating the same for playing. As shown in Fig. 6, that disc 84 is provided on its upper face with a center pin 86 to facilitate centering a record thereon and, on its opposite face, with a depending hub or socket 88 which is fixed on to rotate with a reduced portion 8'! at theupper end of a shaft 88. That shaft 88 passes through an aperture 99 in the panel D and is slidably arranged in a sleeve 88 which is rotatably journaied in'a frame or chassis N suspended as at 9i from the mounting panel D. Intermediate the ends of the sleeve a collar 92 embraces the sleeve and carries a spring urged pin or key 98 extending through the sleeve and into a keyway 94 in and longitudinally of the shaft 88.

In that manner the shaft 88 isyieldably keyed to, for rotation with the sleeve 90', and is reciprocable longitudinally thereof. For rotating the sleeve and the shaft, the sleeve has fixed thereon .in the region of the collar 92 a worm wheel in engagement with a worm gear 98 which is suitably coupled as at 91 in driving relationship with an electrical motor 98 or other usual driving means as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 20. Phat motor 98 is-secured as shown at 99 in Fig. 1, to the frame N and is electrically connected as shown in Fig. 29 to one side llll of a source M2 of electrical energy by a conductor I08 and to a control switch I04, by a conductor I95. The other terminal oi the control switch Hill is connected by a conductor I88 to another side ill! of the source Hi2. Preferably, the switch I94 is operable by the coin released mechanism M.

The turntable, it will be remembered, is movable to and from playing position with respect to the reproduoer G. To move the turntable in that manner I provide a cam. driven linkage which is controlled by the driving and timing means K and which rigidly supports the turntable in its playing position whereby to avoid or to minimize vibration of the turntable during the playing of the record, and consequently unfaithful reproduction caused by the effects of such vibration on the needle 12.

Such a cam driven linkage is illustrated in 8 Figs. 1, 4, and 6 as comprising an arm I08 which at one end is coupled, preferably by a ball and socket coupling I09, to the lower end of the reciprocable turntable shaft 88 and which at its opposite end is 'pivotally connected as at v I H to the lower end of an arm H2 having its upper end pivotally supported as atl I 3 on the frame N. Forwardly of the turntable shaft 88, the frame N is provided with a depending arm or bracket Ill (see Figs. 4 and 21) which is formed to journal at one side thereof a rotatable shaft H5 01 the driving and timing means K and which has a fin or flange portion '8 extending laterally from the shaft journal to the region of the ball and socket coupling I09. The lower end of that portion H6 is formed with a horizontal hub portion II1 which carries apivot pin II3 for an arm II 9 pivoted thereon and having its opposite end pivoted as at I2I to the arm I08 intermediate its ends. Therotat-able shaft H6 of the driving and timing means K has fixed thereon at its end below the journal bracket II4 a grooved cam I22 drivingly engaging a cam" pin or roller I23 on the arm II9 between the pivots H6 and I2I. The cam driven linkage is thus adapted to multiply the throw of the roller I23, whereby a small cam may be employed for reciprocating the turntable, and to provide a straight line drive for the reciprocation-of the turntable.

Thus when the motor98 is energized, it drives the sleeve 99 whereby to rotate the shaft 88 and the turntable 84. When the shaft II5 of the driving and timing means -K is rotated, it rotates the grooved cam I22 which during each half revolution operates the links or arms I03 and H9 to raise and lower the turntable to and from playing relationship with the reproducer. In the raised position of the turntable, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the weight of the turntable acting about the pivot I2I, which is held against vertical movement bythe pin I23 engaging in the groove of the cam I22 and against horizontal or lateral movement by the arm II9 secured to the fixed pivot H8, results in an upward force acting longitudinally of the arm II2 which. as shown in Fig. 4 is in its dead center position with respect to such a force. At the same time the weight of the turntable acting at the pivot I2I about the pin I23, which is held against vertical movement by the groove of the cam I22 and against horizontal movement by the arm II9 being secured to the fixed pivot H8, results in an upward force on the frame bracket II4. Although the turntable is readily recip rocable as already described, it will thus be seen that it is rigidly held in playing position by the cam driven linkage I08, II 2, and H9.

The record carriers As shown best in Figs. 2 and 23, the record carriers I are preferably of the ring-shaped type affording edge support for the respective records. Each of them, generally considered, comprises a record supporting ring I24 with an upstanding flange I25 at its periphery and with an internal diameter greater than the diameter of the tumtable 84, and novel means (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 14, and 23) for loosely pivoting the record carrier on a rotatable shaft I26 journaled at its lower end in the frame N and extending upwardly through an aperture I21 forwardly and laterally of the turntable shaft aperture 89 in the panel 'D. That shaft I26 is reduced at the region slightly above the panel D to provide a lower shoulder I28 and is further reduced at its upper end to provide an upper shoulder129, and the shaft has a keyway I36 extending longitudinally thereof between the shoulders I28 and I29.

Each record carrier is so constructed as to provide a plurality of supports which may be pivotally arranged in spaced relation along the shaft I26, whereby to reinforce the record carrier against sagging. Accordingly, each record carrier is provided with an arm or projection I3I extending substantially radially outward from its periphery and connecting at its outer end with a mounting strip having spaced oppositely extending parallel arm portions I32 and I33 substantially at right angles to the arm I3I and an inclined portion I34 connecting the inner ends of the armportions. The arm portion I32 of each record carrier may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the arm I M and the inclined connecting portion I34 may extend upwardly as shown in the upper part of Fig. 4, or downwardly as shown in the lower part of Fig. 4. When the portion I34 extends upwardly, its arm portion I33 may be called an upper arm portion; and when it extends downwardly, its arm portion I33 may be called a lower arm portion. The outer end of each arm I33 is provided with an aperture I35 to facilitate mounting the record carrier to swing about the shaft I26.

Cooperating with each of those arms I3I and their respective mounting strips, an arm or pro- Jection I36 is provided on the record carrier to project outwardly therefrom, and is substantially parallel to and angularly spaced from the arm I3 I That arm I36 at its outer end is formed to provide a horizontally disposed disc-like or dished member I31 in the plane of the record carrying portion of the record carrier and vertically spaced from the outer end of the arm" portion I33. The dished disc provides an upstanding peripheral wall or flange I38 having a slot I39 therein, and cut away or otherwise relieved for about 90 degrees to provide a shoulder I40 spaced from theslot. Each disc I31 is provided with an aperture I4I which is coaxial with the aperture I35 and which cooperates therewith in mounting the record carrier to swing about the shaft I26.

The aperture I35 of each lower arm portion I33 has arranged therein a boss or hub member I42 which has a shaft aperture I43 loosely fitting the shaft I26 below the shoulder I23 and which is provided with a. reduced end portion I44 providing a shoulder I45 intermediate its ends. The reduced end portion I44 may be inserted in the aperture I35 until the arm portion I33 engages the shoulder I45 whereupon the peripheral margin of the reduced portion may be formed to provide a peripheral flange I46 spaced from the shoulder I and a spacer portion I41 coaxial with and at the side of said flange I46 opposite the shoulder I45, The flange I46 cooperates with the shoulder I45 to retain the boss member in the aperture I3 5. Similar boss members are arranged in the aperture I 35 of the respective upper arm portions I33, but, as shown in Fig. 4, they are preferably inverted with respect to the first mentioned boss members and the shaft apertures. 'Those inverted boss members I42 loosely fit the shaft I26 above the shoulder I29.

Each dished disc I31 has associated therewith a spacer I48 having a shaft aperture I49 therethrough which slidably fits the shaft I 26 between the shoulders I28 and I29, and having internal keying means I 5| cooperating with the keyway I30 in that portion of the shaft for fixing the spacer on the shaft to rotate therewith. Each such spacer has a reduced end portion I52 loosely fitting in the aperture I4I of the disc I31 and a larger spacer portion I 53 provided with a slot or keyway I 54 in its periphery.

Preferably the stack of record carriers is assembled in a jig with the spacer portions I53 in the dished discs I31 and with the reduced end portions I52 depending therefrom into the apertures I4I, respectively, whereby the end of each reduced portion I52 is flush with the bottom surface of the disc I31. A spacer I55 (like the spacers-I48, and adapted to fit loosely on the shaft I26 above the shoulder I23), a dished disc I56,

' I88 without the internal keying means III and aaracia non-rotatable and without'any record carrying attachments or members, and a spacing washer I81 are interposed between the lowermost disc I81 and the uppermost portion I88 connected to the downwardly inclined connecting portion I88. Likewise an invertedspacer I88 (like the spacers adapted to fit loosely on the shaft I28. above the shoulder I28), an inverted dished disc I88 (like the disc I88), and a spacing washer "I are arranged outwardly of the uppermost disc I81 forming a part of a record carrier.

A plurality of the novel record carriers thus assembled are arranged in superposed relation on the shaft I28 as best shown in Fig. 4, between supporting and retaining collars I82 and I88 fixed as at I88 ,and I88 on the shaft; and preferably with the connecting portions I88 of half of them arranged to extend downwardly at an inclination to the respective arm portions I82 and with the other connecting portions extending upwardly from their respective arm portions I82. In that manner the column of carriers is not my symmetrical, but requires a shorter length the shaft I28 above the panel D because the future I21 in the panel D may, as shown in Fig. be of such shape and dimensions as to permit the use of a portion of the shaft I28 below the lowermost record carrier for pivotally receiving thereon some of the arm portions I88.

Thus the record carriers are loosely pivoted on the shaft I28 and are held against movement longitudinally thereof by the collars I82 and I88 and any one of them may be drivingly coupled with the shaft by keying means engaging in the slot I88of the disc I81 and the slot I88 of the corresponding spacer I88 which is locked to rotate with the shaft by the keying means I8I engaging in the keyway I 88. Such means will be described presently in connection with the novel selector.

Normally the record carriers'I are in stack or superposed relationship laterally of the turntable as shown in Fig. 2. and when one of them is locked to rotate withthe shaft I28 as Just described, that record carrier is swung to a position over or in the path of'the turntable. After the played record is returned to that record carrier, it is swung back to its stack position. Preferably, therefore, the shaft I28 is rockable through an angle for so swinging the record carrier. For that purpose the lower end of the shaft I28 under the panel D has a crank arm I88 fixed as at I81 thereon (see Figs. 4, 14, 20, and 21) which has at its outer end a pivotal connection I88 with an end'of an arm or link I88. The opposite end of that arm 'I88has a pivotal connection "I with the outer end of a crank arm I 12 fixed at its other end on a stub shaft I18 which -is journaled as shown in Fig. 4 in the frame N adjacent the driving and timing means K and which carries a gear I14. Rotation of. the gear I14 through 180. rotates the stub shaft I18. and the crank arm I12 a like amount whereby to rotate the shaft I28 sufficiently to swing a record carrier from its stack position to its delivery position over the turntable. The next 180 of rotation of the stub shaft by the gear I18 operates the crank arm I12 to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft I28 whereby to return the record carrier to its stack position.

The selector As best shown in Figs. 14 to 19, the novel selector comprises means coactin'g with the dished discs I81 for normally retaining the record carriers r in W or stock relationship, and

operable for coupling the record carriers to the rockable shaft I28; means for operating the first mentioned means; means driven from the driving and timing means K for driving the operating means; and the selector control means L for controlling the operating means, whereby any predetermined record carrier, and hence the record therein, may be selected and the operating means may be driven to cause the first mentioned means to release the selected record carrier and, to couple it to the rockable shaft I28: Such a selector may be assembled on a suitable subframe or chassis, generally denoted by the reference character 0.

That subframe O is cast or otherwise suitably formed to provide, a base portion I18 of generally trapezoidal conflguratio'n, an upstanding rear member or bracket I18 at one of its parallel sides, an upstanding front member or bracket I11 at the other parallel side of the base portion I18,

1 and a third upstanding member or bracket I 18 between the' center of the base portion I18 and the front bracket I11 and considerably longer than either of the brackets I18 of I11. In securing the subframe O in the position shown in Fig. 14 the rear bracket 118 of the subframe is secured as at I18 to the forward side of that portion of the frame N forming a bearing for the shaft I28.

when the subframe is so secured to the frame N, the base portion I 18 extends forwardly of the shaft I28 and into an aperture I8I in the front wall of the cabinet A between the sight opening B and the sound escape opening 0, thus locating the bracket I11 in that aperture, and the bracket I18 extends upwardly through the aperture I21 in the panel D forwardly of the discs. I81. At a level above the inverted disc I88, thebracket I18 is provided with an arm I82 extending laterally inwardly toward the shaft I28 and having at its inner end a depending lug I88. That depending lug I88 has secured thereto the upper end of a comb-like member I88, as at I88, which extends downward, alongside the discs I81 to a forwardly extending bracket arm or member I88 at the, upper end of the'rear bracket I18 of the subframe O and which is suitably secured to that bracket arm I88 as shown at I81 in Fig. 15.

The comb-like member I88 comprises an upstanding body portion I88 having a plurality of teeth or arm I88 which are horizontally disposed and each of which is provided at its outer end with an upstanding lug I8I to provide a slot I82 between each lug I 8| and the body portion I88. One such tooth I88 and one slot I82 are provided by the comb-like member I88 slightly below the level and forwardly of each dished disc I81 and they cooperate with the slots I88 in the discs I81 and with guiding means for providing operable latching means to facilitate releasably retaining the corresponding record carrier in stack, releasing that record carrier, and coupling it to the shaft I28. Arms or brackets I88 are provided on the body portion I88 at the levels of the non-rotatable discs I88 'and- I88 to which the brackets I88 secured to lock the discs I88 and I88 against rotation.

It is at present preferred to provide such guiding means in the :Torm of a pair of angle members I88 for each disc I81, each angle I88 having angularly disposed arms I88 and I88. One pair of the angle members is secured in spaced relation by welding or otherwise fastening the arm I 88 of each such angle member to the lower face of the bottom of disc I 31 so that the arms I96 of each pair of angle members extends downwardly toward the next lower dished disc I31 at opposides of the disc radius intersecting the center line of the slot I39 in the wall I33 of the disc carrying that pair of angle members. In such an arrangement, the record carriers I may be ad- Justed about the shaft I26 to bring the respective slots I39 in the disc I31 into alignment with the slots I92 in the teeth of the comb-like member I34. When all of the record carriers-are so ad- Justed, they will be in stack relation laterally of the turntable and a vertical plane passing through the axis of the shaft I26 and the vertical center lines of all of the slots I92 will pass through the center lines of all of the slots I39 and between and equidistant from the spaced arms I96 of each pair of angle members I93. In

other words, allof the slots I39 in the discs and all of the guideways formed by the pairs of angle members I93 are respectively vertically aligned and from the axis of the shaft I26 radially outwardly, each guideway is aligned with the slot I39 in the next lower disc I31 and with the slot I92 in the comb tooth corresponding to the disc I31 carrying the angle members providing that guideway.

For releasably retaining the record carriers I in stack as Just described, a plurality of selector members or keys I96 are provided, each being provided with a slot I91 near an end thereof, a slot I98 spaced from the slot I91 9. distance equal to the distance between the aligned slots I39 and I92, and a slot 200 at the opposite side of the slot I93 from the slot I91.' One such selector key, arranged with the slot I91 near its outer end and facing downward, is inserted end-on into the aligned slots I39 and I92, under each disc I31, and into each guideway formed by the angle members I 93, and the keys are moved inwardly until each slot 200 in the key registers with the slots I 39 in the peripheral flange I38 of the next lower disc I31. In that position the slots I91 will be forwardly of the comb-like member as shown in Fig. 15; the slots I98 will be between the comblike member and the peripheral flanges I33 of the discs I31; and the inner ends of the keys I96 will be aligned with and adjacent the open sides of the slots I54 in the respective spacers I48. The inner ends of the keys I 96 may be supported and yieldably held out of engagement in the slots I64 by springs or other resilient means I99 each passing through an aperture 20I in each key and elongated apertures 202 in the respective arms I 96 of each pair of angle members I93 and having its ends secured as at 203 to the lower face of the bottom of the disc I31 at opposite sides of the angle members I93.

Thus that portion of each key I96 between the slots I91 and I93 therein is normally engaged in the corresponding slot I92, and the slot 200 of each key I96 inwardly of the slot I93 normally registers with the slot I39 in the wall I33 of the disc I31 next below the disc I31 carrying the key. In that manner the discs and hence the record carriers are releasably latched against rotation, and each is rotatable,-when released, by virtue of the registration of the slot 200 with the slot I39- in the next lower disc I31. All of the keys I93 are individually movable against the action of their respective springs I99 to engagement in the respective slots I54 and to a position at which each slot I91 registers with the corresponding slot I92 in the comb-like member and each slot I98 registers with the slot I39 in the disc I31 next below the disc carrying the key I99, whereby the discs and hence the record carriers are released and may be rotated about the axis of the shaft I23. During such rotation of any record carrier, the key I93 fixed to the bottom of the corresponding disc I31 rotates'with the disc, the slot I91 being so dimensioned as to cause the key to clear the upstanding lug I9I, and the slot I98 being adapted to receive therein that portion of the peripheral flange I 33 (of the disc I31 next below the disc being rotated), between the slot I39 and the shoulder I40 and being dimensioned so that the shoulder I40 of the next lower disc serves as a stop to limit the rotation of the key and hence the disc and record carrier in a record delivering direction. That peripheral flange thus cooperates with the slot I93 in the key to hold the key in its latched position against the action ofthe spring I99 during the swinging of the record carrier and when the carrier is returned to stack the spring I99 moves the key to its normal or unlatched position at which the slot 200 registers with the slot I 39 in that next lower disc I31.

The means for operating the keys I96 com prises a plurality of one-tooth gears or cams 204' each of which has a tooth 205, and which, in alternating relationship with a plurality of spacers 206, are keyed as at 201, in a reduced end portion 203 of a shaft 209 between a shaft shoulder 2 and a retaining collar 2I2 secured as at 2I3 on the shaft outwardly of the gears 204. The gears are spaced apart a distance equal to the vertical distance between succeeding keys I96 and are arranged with the teeth 205 of succeeding gears progressively angularly displaced from the tooth of each preceding gear so that as shown in Fig. 15 the teeth 205 are spaced along and about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 209.

The shaft 209 is slidably journaled at its upper end in the subframe member I82 and extends downward therefrom to vertically yieldable means including the upper end of a rotatable shaft 2I4. That shaft 2I4 is journaled intermediate its ends in the subframe member I16, with its upper end slidably receivable in a socket or recess 2 I 5 in the lower end of the shaft 209, which communicates at its inner end with a bleed leak or aperture 2I6 in the shaft 209 and communicating with atmosphere. A coil spring 2I1 about the shaft 209 is interposed between a driving ratchet or gear 2I3 on the rotatable shaft 2I4 and the control means for the selector and a key 2I9 is inserted in cooperating keyways HI and 222 in the socket 2I5 and the upper end of the shaft 2I4, respectively, whereby the shaft 209 is drivingly coupled to the shaft 2I4 for rotation therewith and the shaft 209 is capable of a limited reciprocable movement longitudinally thereof.

In the normal position of the shaft 209 the gears 204 are at the same levels as the respectively corresponding keys I96 so that if the shaft were rotated a complete revolution, the teeth 205 would successively cam the respective keys I96 to engagement in the slots I54. The shaft 209 may, however, be depressed, the spring 2I1 being yieldable, until the gears are below the respectively corresponding keys I96 but above the next lower keys I96, respectively. The depressed shaft may then be rotated to position the desired tooth 205 adjacent and below the correspending key I93, whereupon the depressed shaft tioning the cam teeth 288 in operative relationwhereby to select a record carrier I and hence the record carried thereby.

For d iving the shaft 2 to rotate the. shaft 288 as 1 st described, the shaft 2 below the subframe member I18 has flxed thereon as at 222' to rotate therewith a collar or sleeve 224 with a socket or recess 2 28 inits lower 'end and with an external peripheral flange 228 at its lower end. Spaced below the flange 228 of the collar 224 on the shaft 2 is another collar 221 having at its upper end an external peripheral flange 228 and held thereon by a retaining collar 228 flxed on, as at 22I, the lower end of the shaft-2I4 to rotate therewith. The lower end of the collar 221 is provided with a depending lug 222 engaging I of the shaft into the socket 228 and with a shoulder or flange 228 which is complementary to the flange 228 and with a surface 221 at the other end of the bevel gear 224, complementary to the flange 228. A friction washer 228 is interposed between the flanges 228 and 228 and another friction washer 228 is arranged between the flange 228 and the surface 221 for frictionally and yieldably transmitting rotary motion from the bevel gear 224 to the shaft 2 by way of the friction washers 228 and 228and the collars 224, 221, and 228. when the depressed shaft 288 during rotation by the gear 224'is released, the spring 2" returns it to its normal position. The positioned cam tooth 288 thereupon engages the corresponding key I88 and interrupts the rotation of the shaft 288 and its drive shaft 2I4, the engagement between the cam tooth and the key causing slipping at the yieldable couplings 228 and 228 between the driven gear 224 and the shaft 2. The ratchet or gear 2I8 may thereafter be utilized to rotate the shaft 288 and cause the positioned cam tooth to operate the key I88.

Thus rotation of the gear 2I8 or of the gear 284 may rotate the shaft 288, and both the gear 2I8 and the gear 224 are driven to rotate the shaft 288 in operating the cams 284 to select records. The gear 224, in selecting a record, is driven to position the desired cam 284 with its tooth 288 adjacent the corresponding key I88, whereupon the gear 218 is driven to cause the tooth 288 to cam the key I88 to its latching or selecting position.

For thus driving the gear 224, a bevel gear I is fixed in driving engagement with the gear 234 on the end of a shaft 242 which is journaled at that end in va bracket 242 supported by the frame N at the lower end of the shaft I28 and which is journaled at its opposite end in an arm 244 on the flange portion II8 above the hub portion II1. That shaft 242 has a worm gear 245 fixed thereon near the arm 244 and meshing with a gear 248 which is carried on to rotate with the lower endv of a hollow spindle 241 journaled as shown in Fig. 6 in the frame N near the worm 88, and at the side thereof opposite the sleeve 88. That spindle 241 carries a worm wheel 248 flxed thereon to rotate therewith above the gear 248 and meshing with the worm '88, whereby the motor 88 in driving the worm 88 will drive the worm wheel 248, the spindle 241, the enmeshing gears 245 and 248, the shaft 242, and the enmeshlng gears '224 and 2 and may thereby rotate the shaft 2 to rotate the shaft 288 for posislap with their respectively corresponding keys after they have been respectively positioned as Just described, to operate the respectively corresponding keys I88, an elongated reciprocable member 248 is slidably supported at one end in an apertured bracket or arm 28I on the subframe member I18 rearwardly and at a side of the gear 2|8. That reciprocable member 248 extends from its supporting bracket 28I toward the driving and timing means K and at its end opposite the bracket 28I,'the reciprocable member 248 is slidably supported in an aperturedbracket 282 secured, as shown in Figs. 4 and 21, to the outer wall of a shaft bearing 282 provided in and centrally of the frame N. A spring urged pawl 284 is pivoted on the end of the member 248 supported in the arm 28I for drivingly engaging the ratchet or gear 2I8 when the reciprocable member 248 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 21, and for slidably engaging the ratchet 2I8 when the reciprocable member is moved in the opposite direction. To facilitate operating the reciprocable member 248 whereby to drive the ratchet 2I8, a lug or pm 288 is provided on that reciprocable membernear the bracket 282 and a spring 288 secured at one end to the reciprocable member and at its opposite end to the bracket-282 yieldably holds the reciprocable member with the lug 288 abutting the bracket 282. The reciprocable member may, by means of the lug 288, be operated to the left as viewed in Fig. 21 to drive the ratchet 2I8, the spring 288 serving to return the reciprocable member until the lug 288 engages the bracket 282 and stops further movement of the reciprocable member to the right.

The selector control means L controls the operating means 'for the keys I88 whereby any predetermined record may be selected for playing and the record carrier bearing that record will thereafter be operated to move the record to a position over the turntable H. That control means L is shown best in Figs. 1, 2, 14, 16, and 20, and comprises means for depressing the reciprocable shaft 288 preparatory to, and holding it depressed during, the positioning of the desired cam tooth 288 by the gear 234, and means for releasing the depressedshaft 288 when the desired cam tooth 288 is properly positioned with respect to the corresponding key I88 so that the next operation of the ratchet 2I8 will cause the .cam tooth to operate the key I88, thereby latching the record carrier bearing the selected record to the shaft128 for swinging that record carrier to its delivery position.

Such selector control means in preferred form includes a plurality of discs 251 each stamped or otherwise formed to provide a peripheral ridge or flange 288 extending laterally from one face thereof, an inclined peripheral wall 258, and a slot 28I in the peripheral wall 258 and extending inwardly toward the center of the disc. One of those discs 281 for each two record carriers I is arranged on, to rotate with, the shaft 288, with a suitable spacer 282 between succeeding discs, in such a manner that the slot 28I of each disc is angularly displaced, as shown in 16, about the axis of the shaft with respect to the slot in the next succeeding disc. That angular spacing between the slots in the succeeding discs 251 is twice that between the teeth 288 of. succeeding cams 284. The assembly of discs 281 and spacers 282 is flxed longitudinally of the To drive the gear an for causing the teeth as,

shaft between a shaft shoulder 263 at the upper end of the spring 2I1 and a retaining washer or collar 284 for cooperation with the actuating means for depressing and releasing the reciprocable shaft 289.

A plurality of vertically spaced, reciprocable plungers 265 are slidably arranged in respectively alinged apertures 266 and 261 provided for that purpose in the subframe members "1' and I18, respectively, one such plunger 268 being provided at'about the level of each disc 251. Each such plunger 265 is provided at its inner end with a depending finger or lug 268 having its end facing the corresponding disc 251 inclined as shown at 289 in Fig. 14 to provide a cam surface. A button or other suitable actuating means 21I is fitted on the outer end of each plunger 261, outside the cabinet A, to facilitate moving, the plunger inwardly to engagement with the corresponding disc 261 against the action of a coiled spring 212 on each plunger between the button 21I and the subframe member I18.

The subframe member I16 carries a plurality of vertically spaced, reciprocable plungers 213 which are slidably arranged in apertures 214 in the subframe member, one such plunger being provided at about the level of each disc 251 and at the diametrically opposite side thereof from the corresponding plunger 265. Each such plunger 213 is provided at its outer end with a depending finger or lug 215 which, like the fingers 268, has itsend facing the corresponding disc 251 inclined as shown at 216 in Fig. 14 to provide a cam surface. For reciprocating the piungers 213 each of them is provided intermediate its ends with an upstanding pin or stud 211 which, as shown in Fig. 16, is engaged in a bifurcated end 218 of a lever 219. The levers 219 are pivoted intermediate their ends with alternating spacers 288 as shown in Figs. 14 and 16, on a common pivot pin 28I extending between the subframe bracket arm I86 and a lug 282 spaced therebelow at one side of, and projecting forwardly from, the subframe member I16.

The end of each lever 219 opposite the bifurcated end 218 has a pivotal connection 283 with the inner end of a reciprocable rod or other suitable member 284 which extends outwardly from their pivotal connections 283 with the levers 219 and which are slidably supported in spaced, vertical alignment in apertures 285 and 286 in the subframe members I11 and I18, respectively. Those apertures 285 and 286 are spaced laterally from the corresponding apertures 266 and 261, respectively. Each rod at its outer end, outside the cabinet A is fitted with a button or other suitable actuating means 281 for moving the rod to move the plunger 213 outwardly to engagement with the corresponding disc 251 against the action of a coiled spring 288 on each rod between the button 281 and the subframe member Pushing a button 21I or the corresponding button 281 causes the cam surface 269 or, as the case may be, the cam surface 216 to engage the inclined peripheral wall 259 of the corresponding disc 251 and to cam the disc and hence the shaft 289 in a downward direction against the action of the spring 2I1.- In thus depressing the shaft 289 the depending finger 268 or 215 moves beyond and interlocks with the lateral flange or ridge 258 on the disc 251, thus holding the shaft 289 in its depressed position and latching the button 21I or 281 in its inner or selecting position against the action of the spring 212 or m. It will be remembered that m the depressed position of the shaft 289, the cams 284 are below their respectively corresponding keys I96 so that during the rotationof the depressed shaft the to the axis of the shaft 289 that when the slot 28I in one of the discs 251 releases an operated plunger 266, a corresponding one of the cam teeth 285, upon the ensuing elevation of the shaft 289, will be the next cam tooth to engage its key The spring 2I1 thereupon elevates The slots 28! in the discs 251 and the cam teeth 285 are so related with respect I96 and to interrupt the rotation of the shaft by the gear 234, and when the slot 26I in the same disc 251 releases the corresponding plunger 213 (if operated), a diflerent predetermined one of the cam teeth 285 upon the ensuing elevation of the shaft 289 will be the next cam tooth to engage its key I96 and to interrupt the rotation of the shaft by the gear 234. Thus with half as many discs 251 as record carriers I, the novel selector control L may selectively position the cam teeth 285 in engagement with their respectively corresponding keys I96 for operation by the ratchet 2I8 to select the record carrier bearing the desired record.

The driving and timing means operating means responsive to the selector control means L to select the record indicated thereby and to couple the record carrier bearing that record to the rock shaft I26; thereafter drives the rock shaft I26 to swing the record carrier bearing the selected record to the delivery position over the turntable; drives the cam I22 to raise the turntable through the record carrier in delivery position, wherebyto remove therefrom the selected record and to move that record to playing engagement with the reproducer;

after the record is played, resumes the driving of the cam I22 to lower the turntable through the record carrier in delivery position to deposit thereon the .played record, thus permitting the automatic return of the reproducer to its starting position, as already described; and resumes driving the rock shaft I26 to return the record carrier with the played record to stack.

As shown best in Figs. 4, 20, and 21,'the me chanical drive means just mentioned preferably is a Geneva or other suitable intermittent drive and comprises a shaft 289 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is rotatably arranged in the hollow spindle 241 and is Journaled as at 291 in the frame N. That shaft 289.has a drive pinion or gear 292 out or otherwise formed at its upper end and depends therefrom beyond the lower end of the spindle 241 where it may be coupled in driving relationship with the spindle by .suitable clutch means 293. It will be understood that when the clutch means293 couples the shaft 289 and the spindle together, the motor driven worm 96, in driving the spindle through the worm wheel 248, will drive the shaft 289.

A preferred form for the clutch means 293 is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 ascomprising an outer, hollow drum 294, a roller carrying member 295, and an inner clutch member 296 which are assembled about the lower end of the shaft 289 in operative relationship. The outer hollow drum 294 has the gear 246 out or otherwise formed in its outer wall and is provided with a hub portion 291 embracing and fixed on, to rotate with, the lower end of the. spindle 241. The roller carrying member 295 is rotatably receivable in the drum 294. That member 295 is provided with an external flange 298. intermediate its ends, and has an internal shoulder 299 which is engaged by an external flange 30| at the lower end of the inner clutch member 296 when it is fixed on, to rotate with, the shaft 289 inside of the member 295 for securing the member 295 against movement outwardly of the drum 291. I

For coupling the drum 294 in driving relation to the inner clutch member 296, when it is desired to drive the shaft 289 from the sleeve 241, the-roller carrying member 295 and the inner clutch member 296 are provided with a plurality of complementary slots 302 and 303, respectively, which extend longitudinally thereof from their respective upper ends and which with the inner surface of the outer drum member 294 form vertically elongated chambers or passages that, in plan or end view, are substantially trapezoidal in outline. In each of those passages, the clutching means 293 has an elongated roller 304 of such diameter with respect to the varying distance between the inner wall of each slot 303 and the inner wall of the drum 294 that when the roller is in that side of the chamber lagging relative to the direction of rotation of the drum 294, the inner clutch member 296 is not driven but is uncoupled from the drum 294. When, however, the rollers 304 move to the side of the respective chambers leading relative to the direction of rotation of thedrum 294, they are wedged between the forward portions of the inner walls of their respective slots 303 and the inner wall of the drum 294, thus coupling the inner clutch member 296 to the drum 294 for rotation there with.

A spiral spring 305 fixed at its inner end 306 to the shaft 289 and at its outer end 301 to the roller carrying member 295 normally urges the member 295 in a direction to move the rollers 304 into wedging relation between the drum 294 and the inner clutch member 296. That spring 305 cooperates with a lug or projection 308 on the flange 298 to operate the clutching means 293, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Meshing with the pinion 292 at the upper end of the shaft 29| is a relatively large gear 399 fixed on to rotate with the upper end of a shaft 3| I which is journaled in the shaft bearing 253 (Figs. 4, 20, and 21) of the frame N and which has spaced therebelow a disc 3| 2 that is also fixed on the shaft 3| As shown in Figs. 4 and 20 the spaced, coaxial gear 309 and disc 3-|2 cooperate to carry Geneva driving elements or pins R, S, and T, the pin R comprising a bolt 3|4 passing upwardly from below the disc through a collar 3|5 under the disc, through the disc, and through a collar 3|6 between the gear and the disc and threading into the gear 309. The pin S includes a bolt 3| 1 angularly spaced from the bolt 9|4,in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 3 and passing upwardly from below the disc 3|2 through a collar 3|8 under the disc and threading into the disc; and the pin T comprises a bolt 3|9 angularly spaced from the bolt 3" in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 3 a greater distance than that separating the bolts 3 and 3| 1, and passing upwardly from between the gear 309 and the disc 3| 2 through a collar 32| between the gearand the disc and threading into the gear.

The shaft 3 has fixed on its lower end for rotation therewith below the bearing 253, a contact operating cam or disc 322 having diagonally opposite slots 323 in its periphery for operating a pair of electrical contacts carried by resilient members 324 which are insulated from one another and may be suitably supported for operation, as illustrated at 325 in Fig. 21, by the frame N and which are connected by electrical conductors 326 to the control circuit as shown in Fig. '29. The periphery of the disc 322 is adapted to engage the contact arms 324 for closing them, and when either slot 323 registers with the contact arms, the resiliency thereof causes them to spring apart and interrupt the electrical contact.

Between that disc 322 and the lower end of the shaft bearing, the shaft 3| i has fixed thereon to rotate therewith an insulating disc 322' (see Fig. 29) having a notch or slot 323' out in its periphery. That disc is adapted to operate a pair of electrical contacts carried by resilient.

members 324' electrically connected by conductors 325' and 326' in parallel with or shunting the switchliM. The periphery of the disc 322' holds the contacts closed whereby the motor 98 will be energized. and when, during the rotation of the disc with the shaft 3| 5, the slot 323 registers with the operating contact member 323', the resiliencyof the contact members causes the motor circuit to be broken.

Those Geneva driving pins, R, S, and T are adapted to drive, intermittently and sequentially, a record carrier operating Geneva wheel or cam 321 and a turntable reciprocating Geneva wheel or cam 328. Each of the Geneva wheels, as shown in Fig. 20, may be derived from a square or rhomboidal plate with a 'pin receiving slot 329 out or otherwise formed in the plate at each vertex and extending toward the center of the plate, and with the margins between succeeding slots 329 out out or otherwise removed to provide arcuate concave edges 33L The Geneva wheel 321 is keyed on to rotate with the upper end of a vertical shaft 332 suitably journaled in the frame N rearwardly adjacent the disc 3|2 and below the gear 309, and

the Geneva wheel about the axis of its shaft 332 through about a quarter of a revolution.

When neither the pin R nor the pin S is driving the Geneva wheel 321, it is positively locked against rotation by the mutilated disc 333 which is formed with an arcuate convex edge portion gage in a pin receiving slot 329 and will rotate l 

